On Friday, Sept. 30, the annual CLAS Majors and Minors Fair was held from 1-4 p.m. Though it was a bit cold and cloudy, there was no rain, and the event was held outside, allowing all of the different CLAS programs to line up their tables around the Riley Ellipse. With a couple games of corn hole set up in the middle, a food truck serving Kona Ice and a table raffling off various goodies, the Majors Fair was the place to be. 

Senior Julia Micklo was in charge of running the event alongside the Majors Fair Committee and was pleased with the success of the fair and that all their hard work had paid off.

“I think the Majors Fair went really great,” Micklo said. “We had an amazing turnout and are really happy with the results.”

Dr. Heather Hicks, the Chair of the English Department at the University, shared similar thoughts on how the day unfolded, especially at the English Department’s table.

“I think [the Majors Fair] was very successful,” Hicks said. “Lots of first-year students had a chance to ask questions and learn about the English major both from faculty and current majors. I like meeting students who are excited about reading great literature and honing their writing skills.”

The same can be said about the other disciplines that were present, as many first-year or undeclared students were going up to tables and interacting with both current students and faculty members, collecting stamps for their advising sheets as they went along. 

Micklo echoed this sentiment, noting that what she considers to be the best part of the Majors Fair is “getting to see the great conservations students were having with our CLAS departments.”

Because there are so many interesting and fulfilling disciplines within CLAS, students who attended the Majors Fair may still be unsure of what path they would like to follow. Hicks emphasized that it is okay if that is what someone is feeling, as everyone has a different academic path, and it’s important to find what is best suited for oneself. She offered some words of encouragement to any student who does not know what major they would like to declare. 

“There is a lot of time to explore,” Hicks said. “Students should not feel like they have to come into college certain of what they want to major in. They should take courses that look interesting to them and get a sense of what they are really passionate about. The specific major you choose is ultimately not as important as thriving and growing intellectually during college.”

Micklo offered similar advice to students, assuring them that they have plenty of time to choose what is best for them and that they should not let others dictate that for them.

“Take the time you still have to explore your options and find what speaks to you the most,” Micklo said. “Don’t let anyone rush you into making this important decision.”

Though the Majors Fair was a great success, there is always room for improvement. Micklo already has some ideas for what they can do better next year.

“For next year, we are hoping to get more input from accessibility clubs on campus to ensure the event is easy to navigate for everyone [in addition to] how best to handle the wind for the department tables,” Micklo said.

The only suggestion that Hicks had for next year’s Majors Fair is free coffee, which surely many people would be on board with, especially if it is cold again. 

In closing, Micklo wanted to thank the people she worked with to help bring this event to fruition.

“Thank you to my co-chair Zach Boyer, Loghan Hirkey, Julia Amendola, Any Bove and all our volunteers for helping put on such a great event,” Micklo said.

Because of the dedication to CLAS students, “Choosing a Major Has Never Been So Sweet.”